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ZONE 3 402 C4 -f d Zon/f 4 gmc/1M.' WVfzZlazn B. CQoper, i, Edward 7. ,Sea bold a MAQ/CM1 Patented Sept. 5, 1950 APPARATUS FR ANNEALING William B. Cooper and Edward J. Seabold, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Crown Cork &, Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Original application April 6, 1940, Serial No. 328,292. Divided and this application August 5, 1943, Serial No. 497,524

(ci. zes- 3) 8 Claims.

This is a division of our application which The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for continuously handling and annealing strip steel.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with means for and methods of continuously bright-annealing low carbon. cold rolled strip steel.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved continuous annealing method to take the place of conventional batch annealing processes, thereby to improve the quality and uniformity of the anneal, as well as to shorten the annealing time and reduce its cost.

It is a further object to increase the tonnage of strip steel that may be annealed in a given length of time with an apparatus occupying a particular area of plant space. v'

.It isa further object of the invention to` reduce greatly the cost of annealing strip steel, by materially reducing the heating costs, the handling costs and other labor charges.

It is a further object of the invention to produce in the strip steel an improved anneal, characterized by small, uniform grain structure, resulting from the use of high annealing temperatures followed by rapid cooling from the critical temperature to substantially room temperature. In accordance with the invention, the

v material is maintained at a high annealing temperature for a suilcient period of time to permit the crystalline grains to lose the orientation and elongated shape acquired in cold rolling, and to assume the random positions characteristic of well-annealed steel, but the steel is cooled with suillcient speed to. prevent the formation of large grains of ferrite, which is a characteristic result of the long cooling periods used in batch annealing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel, improved means for accurately and uniformly controlling the temperature to which the strip is raised during its treatment, the time during which the strip is heldor soaked" at a high temperature, and the time, rate and del gree of cooling.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for preventing or controlling oxidation of the strip during the annealing process, whereby a bright-annealed strip or a strip having desired, controlledgcolor characteristics, may be produced.

One of the principal objects and advantages of the' present invention is the elimination, in a continuous annealing method, of fluctuations in the temperature to which the strip is subjected, whereby inequalities in the ductility and hardness of the annealed strip are eliminated. Thus, the invention includes novel methods of maintaining the heating means and the strip passing through particular zones of the furnace at desired constant temperatures.

A further important object of the invention is to provide novel means for maintaining the temperature in the strip, transversely thereof substantially uniform, so as to produce a strip that is uniformly annealed transversely thereof, characterized by the absence of burned or overly heated edge portions or insufilciently heated central portions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel methods of controlling the hardness and ductility of the annealed strip, by controlling and varying the temperature in the soaking zone and the cooling rate.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for and methods of handling strip steel and delivering the same continuously to the annealing furnace, and for handling and reeling the annealed strip as it is discharged from the furnace. To this end, the invention contemplates providing a reserve supply of strip steel from which the material may be continuously delivered to the furnace while the trailing end of one supply reel is welded to the leading end of the next, so that no interruption in the delivery of strip to the furnace need occur. The invention also may include novel means for cleaning the strip before it is introduced into the furnace. Cold rolled strip steel, as it comes from the rolling mill, has on its surfaces a coating of palm oil or the like which, preferably, is removed before introduction of the strip into the furnace. The invention includes novel means for performing this function continuously as the strip is delivered to the furnace.

A further advantage oi' the preferred arrangement of strip handling material is that, if desired, the annealing furnace may be by-passed and the strip drawn through the cleaning apparatus and the reeling machines directly to the reeling device, so that, in the event of a shutdown of the furnace for maintenance or repairs,

the cleaning apparatus may be utilized, the strip rolled up into the usual coils and the latter annealed in a batch annealing furnace or the like.

It is a further object to provide, on the dis- Y 3 charge side of the furnace, novel strip handling instrumentalities whereby, when a predetermined amount of metal has been wound up on an expansible and contractible mandrel in the form of a reel or coil, the strip may be cut, the coil removed and the winding of a new coil started,

- Same.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a preferred form of annealing apparatus, with certain parts re.

moved for the sake of clarity.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pre ferred arrangement of strip handling instrumentalities on the delivery side of the annealing apparatus.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanisms shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of theheating section of the annealing furnace of Figure 4, on a somewhat enlarged scale, with certain parts removed and other parts broken away.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 4, with certain parts removed.

Figure 10-is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through one of the heating chambers showing a preferred arrangement of heating elements.

Figure 11 is a sectional detail, showing a preferred terminal arrangement.

Figure l2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the caps or hoods for closing the upper end of one of the heating chambers.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view showing the furnace floor in plan.

Figure 14 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the lower end of the furnace structure and strip guiding means.

Figure l5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line I5-I5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the furnace casing,

with the brickwork, guiding rolls and closure hoods removed.

Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20 are sectional details, taken on corresponding section lines on Figure 16. Figure 2l is a plan view of a channel-forming frame member or collar adapted to be mounted Figure 29 is a side elevation taken from the right of Figure 28, with certain parts removed.

Figure 30 is a side elevation of a water-jacketed cooling chute section.

Figure 31 is an end elevation of the chute section shown in Figure 30.

Figure 32 is a fragmentary end elevation of a modified form of chute.

Figure 33 is a sectional view of a detail, on an enlarged scale.

Figures 34, 35 and 36 are end and side elevational views of still another type of cooling chute section, while Figure 37 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 38 is a vertical sectional view through a strip discharge assembly adapted to be associated with the last cooling chute section.

Figure 39 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 38, while Figure 40 is an inverted horizontal section taken on line lll-40 of Figure 39.

Figure 41 is anelevational view on an enlarged scale of one ofthe cooling units adapted to be associated with the chute section shown in Figure 28.

Figure 42 is a transverse section through the apparatus of Figure 41.

Figure 43 is a vertical sectional view of a gastight roll seal through which the strip passes to or from the annealing apparatus.

Figures 44 and 45 are side and front elevational views of the apparatus of Figure 43.

Figure 46 is a plan view of a cooling water delivery header and return trough.

Figure 47 is a side elevation of the same, while Figure 48 is a vertical section on lines 48-48 of -Figure 47, and Figure 49 is a circuit diagram of the heating elements in one of the heating sections of the annealing furnace.

In Figure l, there is shown a diagrammatic view of a simple form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention. Strip steel Iii is drawn from any suitable source of supply through a looper II, a furnace IZand a cooling apparatus I3, and then under a delivery roll I4 to a suitable reeling device or the like. As Apointed out below, the strip I Il may come from the instrumentalities shown in Figures 2 and 3, and may be delivered from the furnace to the devices shown in Figures 5 and 6, but the invention, in its broadest aspects, is not limited to the use of these particular mechanisms, as equivalents may be substituted.

The looper represented diagrammatically at II in Figure l, comprises a plurality of lower rolls .I5 journalled for rotation upon a suitable fixed platform IB; upper rollers I1, rotatably carried by a vertically movable frame I8, and supporting cables or the like I9, suitably counter-balanced by means not shown. The strip follows a serpentine path in the looper II, thereby providing a reservesupply of strip, and then 'passes around a first guide roll 20, from where it is drawn through a gas-tight, roll seal 2I into the first heating chamber 22. The seal 2l may be constructed substantially in accordance with the showing in Figures 43-45, described in detail below. An upper furnace roll 24, disposed in the upper end of the annealing furnace at the point of junction between the vertical chambers 22, 25 guides the strip through the chambers. During its passages through the chambers 22, 25, the strip is subjected to radiations from highly heated electrical heating elements 26, arranged in groups or zones, as described below and continuously maintained in heated condition by suitable control means.

The highly heated strip is drawn downwardly through an opening in the floor of the chamber 25 into a roll housing 21, where it is trained about rolls 28, 29 for delivery to the first cooling chute 30. The several cooling chutes 30-35 are connected at their upper and lowerl ends by roll housings 36, 31 having guide rolls 38, 39 therein, over which the strip is trained for movement through the chutes successively where it is subjected to rapid cooling, as explained below. At the lower end of the chute 35, the strip passes through a second gas-tight roll seal 2l and thence under the last guide roll I4 to a reeling device or the like.

The heating chambers 22, 25 and the interiors of the several cooling chutes are in communication with each other, but are sealed from the external atmosphere by thev gas-tight seals 2| and by having all of the connections between the several sections hermetically sealed, as :by bolted and gasketed joints. sand seal 40 may be provided aroundthe line of junction between the removable cap Il for the heating section and the furnace walls, as explained more particularly below in connection with the form of furnace shown in Figure 4. An atmosphere of a non-oxidizing gas is maintained in the interior of the heating and cooling chambers, preferably at a pressure sufficiently above atmospheric pressure to prevent the inadvertent entry of air. Clean fuel gas burned in an insuilcient supply of air will provide an atmosphere which will protect the steel during the annealing operation, if it is dried sufllciently and burned to a suitable analysis, forn instance, CO2 5-6%; CO 10-12%; H2 10l3%; and N2 balance. It is important that the gas be dried before it is introduced into the furnace, so that there is at least twenty times as much H2 as H2O. A pressure of 0.2 inch water pressure above atmosphere, maintained in the furnace and in the cooling chambers has been found to be sufficient to prevent the entrance of atmospheric air. Any air that does enter the furnace immediately combines by burning with the highly heated hydrocarbon atmosphere therein.

As described below in detail in connection with the form of cooling chutes shown in the apparatus of Figure 4, certain of the chutes 30-35 may be Water-jacketed to provide rapid, positive cooling, while others may have associated therewith positively driven fans for circulating the gaseous medium in the chutes over the surfaces of water cooled conduits and then over the surfaces of the strip to effect further cooling oi' the material.

Preferably, the sections in the chute 30 are water-jacketed, as shown in Figures 30-32 and described below, whileI the sections in chutes 3i-34 are of the type shown in Figures 28 and 29 and may have associated therewith, positive gas circulating and cooling means, described below.

The heating elements 26 preferably are of the type shown more in detail in Figures 8 and 10 andare connected in banks on opposite sides of the heating chambers in series, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 49 so that opposite sides of the strip are subjected to equal heat radiations. Each bank may include four rows of loops or festoons in series, and a pair oi banks of elements on opposite sides of the chamber constitute a heating zone. As indicated in Figure 1, the furnace comprises sixteen zones, each of An oil or pil and Temperature, "F

6 `which may be independently Usually, the two banks of heating elements in each zone, connected in series, receive current from a suitable source of supply LI, L2, in parallel with the elements in other zones, but it is often found desirable to connect all oi the elements in two or more zones together in series.

In any event, in the operation of the furnace according to the 'method of the present invention, the heating elements 26 are maintained continuously in highly heated condition by continuously conducting current therethrough, as distinguished from providing a fluctuating current supply. The total amount of current conducted to the heating elements is determined by connecting certain of the elements `Ain parallel or in series, or by cutting outcertain elements, and, this, in turn, depends upon the gauge and width of the strip steel being annealed. For instance, on a strip having a width oi thirty inches and a thickness of .0115, the heating elements are energized with a total constant input of 720 kw. The strip travels at substantially 205,1eet per minute and remains in the annealing apparatus, including heating and cooling chambers, a period of one minute and forty-five seconds. The maximum temperature to which the strip is raised is approximately 1625 F., followed by heating at progressively lower temperatures to eliminate any transverse inconsistencies in the temperature gradiant. The strip leaves the heating chamber at substantially 1400 F. and, by means of the water-jacketed cooling chutes is reduced, in about fifteen seconds to a temperature of substantially 1050 F. During the next thirty-five seconds in the subsequent cooling chutes, the temperature is reduced to substantially 275 F. In the final, air-cooled chute or chutes, the temperature is reduced from 275 to about 175 F., in a period of twenty-five seconds, whereupon the strip may be safely exposed to atmosphem air without any substantial danger of oxidation or scale formation.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular figures given above, as, for different strip speeds, different temperatures are maintained in the heating and coolingchambers. For instance, the .following figures illustrate typical temperature, by zones, for a run of .0115 gauge steel, drawn through at 210l feet per minute:

Zone 1 2 `3 4 5 6 Temperature, "F

Zone 9 1Q 11 12 13 14- 15 16 1,-6701,635 1,0051,5751, 5451,4951,450 out rThe total kw. input in the above run was 720. The annealed steel tested as follows: Erickson, 860;,Olsen, 335; Rockwell, 52-B. e

. The furnace shown in Figure 1 is provided with an electrical pyrometer for each heating zone (consisting oi' two banks ofv heating elements, one on each side of the strip) and a controlling potentiometer for each group of three zones. Hence, the temperature conditions in the furnace may be observed at all times.

An important feature of the present invention is the adjustment of the current input and consumption to the thickness of steel being annealed. If the current input and the thickness of the strip remain constant, a constant annealing result will be accomplished, providing the controlled, as ini, d icated by controllers CI, C2, etc. in Figure 49.'

the ow of current to the heating elements, or

by automatically, through a thermostat control, cutting certain of theelements into and out of operation. Wide fluctuations in the annealing `results have been found to follow from such methods, since there is necessarily a very substantial lag in changing the conditions of the heating elements, with the result that, for at least a substantial period of time in the annealing cycle, the elements are either too hot or too cold.

In accordance with the present invention, the current input to the heating elements remains constant for a particular gauge of strip steel,

` so that there are normally no substantial fluctuations in the temperature of the elements. Compensation for minor variations in the thickness of the strip, for instance,such as may be encountered at the ends of the rolls, is effected by controlling and varying the speed of travel ofthe strip through the apparatus. That is, when heavier portions of the strip are travelling through the heating zone, the speed of travel is decreased, to enable the thicker material to 'absorb a greater amount of heat and to extract, frm the heating zone, a number of heat units in a'given length of time equivalent to that extracted by the more rapidly moving, thinner strip sections. Conversely, if the strip contains thin portions, its speed of travel is increased somewhat, thereby maintaining Vthe strip and the elements at a substantially constant temperature.

The following table gives typical figures as to l Width, current input and speed of travel of certain standard gauge strip steel when annealed in the apparatus of Figure 1.

Erickson, Qlsen and Rockwell tests are given.

Widthv Txlelg" leg' Speed Erickson Olsen lvo" 3o" .ones 36o 195 soo-830 30o-32o 53-55 31%" 0107 12o 22o soo-sac aco-32o 5a-55 o" .once 66o 21o sac-84o 305525 49-52 so" .0115v 12o 205 s40- 310-340 4s-52 i finements, inventions and improvements. The strip handling equipment shown in Figures 2, 3,

5 and 6, as stated above, may be employed with either form of furnace, disclosed in Figures 1 and 4, or equivalent devices may be employed.

In Figures 2 and 3, two coil supporting devices,

` represented generally at 45, 46, deliver strip steel alternately from coils 41, 48 supported thereon. 'I'he strip passes through a welding machine 50, a tension device 5i, under a guide roll 52 and to and through a tank 53 Vhaving a hot alkaline solution therein. The strip is guided through the tank in a serpentine path by upper and lower rolls 54, 55, with the result that substantially all of the palm oil on its surface is dissolved and Also, gures for l removed. A guide roll 56 leads the metal to and through a scrubber 51 having rolls 58, 58 and brushes 60, 6I associated therewith to scrub both surfaces of the strip and loosen any traces of palm oil, scale or alkali material still adhering thereto. The loosened material is rinsed olf in a hot rinse water bath in a tank 62, through which the strip is guided by rolls 63, 64. A plurality of ""-wringers 65, 68, 6'6' and hot air blowers 61 remove all water from the surface of the strip and effectively dry the same, whereupon it passes through a pair of pinch rolls 68, driven by an electric motor 69, the latter constituting the main drive for unwinding the strip from theunreeling devices 46 and 41 and for drawing the strip through the alkali tank, the scrubber, the rinsing tank and the wringer rolls.

From the pinch rolls 68, the strip passes to the ilrst roll of a looper 10 (Fig. 4) or to the first lower roll I5 of the looper I I (Fig. 1). The looper 10' comprises a plurality of lower rolls 1I journalled on a fixed lower frame 12 and a plurality of upper rolls 13 journalled on a vertically movable frame 14, supported by cables 15 and an appropriate counterweight, not shown. The strip passes over the several rollers in a serpentine path, to provide a reserve supply of. strip between the main supply constituted by the coils 41, 48 and the entrance guide roll 16 of the annealing furnace, to permit the strip, behind the looper 10 to be stopped while the leading end of a new` reel of steel is welded to the trailing end of an exhausted reel, while permitting a continuous delivery of strip from the looper to the annealing furnace.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, when the supply of steel on one of the coils 41, 48 for instance, the latter, is exhausted, and when the end of the strip has substantially reached the Welder 5Il,v

the supply of current to the motor 69 which drives the pinch rolls 68 is cut olf, thereby halting the movement of the line behind the pinch rolls. The leading end of the strip in the coil 131 has previously been led over a framework lill,A

including guide rolls a, 80h and 80e, substantially into proximity to the Welder 50. The end of this strip is now placed over the rear end of the rst strip in the Welder and a plurality of spot welds or one or more continuous transverse welds are quickly made, to join the strips together. Meanwhile, strip steel is continuously drawn into the furnace from the reserve supply in the looper, and the upper frame 14 is thereby drawn downwardly against.` the action of its counterweight. As soon as the weld has been completed by the Welder 50, the motor 69 1s started and strip is drawn through pinch rolls 68 at a speed above the normal delivery speed, to replenish the supply in the looper 10, while continuing the delivery of strip to the annealing furnace. Strip is then continuously drawn from the coil 41 at normal running speeds.

A new supply of material, in the form of a new roll or coil, is placed upon a transversely travelling car 8| (Fig. 3) and moved into position immediately in front of the unreeler 46, under the frame 80. The car 8I may be tipped rearwardly, or the coll otherwise rolled onto an elevating platform 82, disposed centrally relative to the coil supporting device 46. By appropriate means, such as an electric motor 83, the elevator 82 is raised, to align the axis of the new coil 48 with the rotatable heads 84 of thecoil holder 46. Additional motors 85 operate through appropriate transmission mechanisms to move the rotatable heads 84 and theltr supporting brackets 46 axially toward or from one another to clamp or release the reels therebetween. After the new reel has been so gripped by the heads 84, the elevator 82 descends to an inoperative position and the car 8| is moved transversely to pick up a new supply of strip steel. The motors 85 may be moved in unison, in either direction, to move both heads 84 axially, simultaneously in either direction, to effect an accurate alignment of the new coil with the welding machine, guide rolls, tension devices and the like. This independent adjustment of the coil supporting heads is of considerable importance when coils of varying standard widths are employed.

One or both of the rotatable heads of each reel supporting device is connected through appropriate driving mechanism to an electric motor 86, to facilitate initial unwinding of the leading end of the strip, for attachment to the trailing end of the previous strip. This motor-moreover, serves as an electric brake during the normal operation of the apparatus, by simply changing its connections to convert it to function as a dynamo, whereby an accurate control for the tension on the strip is effected.

When the coil 41 is exhausted, the trailing end of the strip thereon is welded to the leading end of the new coil 48 and a new roll 41 is mounted in the coil support 45 by rolling the same along a table 88 onto an elevator 82', similar to the elevator 82 and controlled by an electric motor 83. the coil support 45 are substantial duplicates of corresponding elements associated with the unreeling device 46, they will not be described in detail. Thus, strip is continuously delivered to the annealing oven, rst from one roll of metal and then from the other, alternately, and a new roll is positioned in operative relation to its unreeling device while the strip is being delivered from the other roll.

On the discharge side of the furnace, the annealed strip, as it leaves the last cooling chute, travels under a guide roll 90 (Fig. 4) or under the guide roll i4 (Fig. l) and through positively driven master pinch rolls 9|- (Figs. 5 and 6) whichserve to draw the strip through the heating and cooling chambers of the annealing apparatus, as described in detail below. A looper represented generally at 93 is interposed between the pinch rolls 96, the latter serving to draw the strip through the looper; The strip next passes through a looper box 95, a quick-release tension device 96, side guide, centering rolls 91, additional tension devices 948, 99 and over a guide roll |00,

which leads the strip to the reeling device ||l|,

where the strip is wound up into the form of a coil on a mandrel |02.

The reeling device includes an expansible and contractible mandrel |02 having an axially extending slot |03 in its periphery, the parts of the mandrel being so arranged that, when the mandrel is driven forwardly ina clockwise direction by its driving motor |04, the mandrel is in the expanded position and the slot closed, with the end of the strip firmly clamped therein. When the mandrel is rotated ahead relative to its supporting shaft or the latter rotated rearwardly Since the actuating means for trolled by an arm |05 having an end engaging the surface of the coil and connected to a rheostat |06, so that, as the coil increases in size, the current delivered through the rheostat to the mot-or |04 is varied to decrease the speed of the motor. The brake/ |01, controlled by a suitablefoot pedal |08, quickly stops the mandrel and holds it stationary while its supporting shaft is reversed by reversing the motor |04, to contract the mandrel.

Beneath the reeling device |0 there is a transversely movable car |09, mounted on trackways ||0 for movement between a position under the mandrel |02 and a'r discharge position in alignment with a runway An elevator ||2 carried by the car maybe raised to engage and support a completed coil on the mandrel, when the mandrel has been arrested and contracted. The car |09 also carries at its innermost end an upwardly projecting stripper block ||3, which normally projects behind the end of the coil while the latter is being wound upon the mandrel. Hence. when the car moves outwardly with the coil supported by the elevator, the stripper block ||3 strips the coil cleanly from the mandrel, so that the coil may be moved to the discharge position.

Preferably, the elevator ||2 comprises three vertically movable supporting blocks which project upwardly through appropriate slots in the upper, inclined face ||4 of the car |09. Hence, when the elevator blocks are lowered at the discharge position, the coil engages the inclined surface ||4 and rolls forwardly therefrom, onto the runway I, where it is held until removal by any suitable means.

The movements of the elevator and the cai` are preferably elected by suitable pneumaticcylinders, not shown, which may be controlled bymanually operated valves |09 or the like.

During the normal operation of the parts on the delivery side of the annealing apparatus, the pinch rolls 9| are driven continuously at a predetermined speed by -a motor 9i', operating through a speed reducer 9|", to draw the strip continuously through the apparatus, for instance, the annealing and cooling chambers shown in Figures l or 4. A tachometer 9|a may be connectecl to the motor shaft, to indicate, in feet per minute, the speed of strip travel. The looper 93 is normally in the lowered position, substantially as shown in Figure 6 and the pinich rolls 94 are driven by the motor 94 through speed reducer 99", at the same speed as the rolls 9i. The strip is drawn through the looper box 95, the tension devices and the centering rolls 91 by the reeling device |0|, driven by motor |04. until a complete coil of metal has been there wound up. At that time, the motors |04 and 94', 'driving the reeling device |0| and the pinch rolls 94, are stopped and the strip is cut transversely between the guide roll |00 and the reeling device |0|. The mandrel is contracted and the coil is removed by the stripper block ||3, elevator ||2 and car |09. The leading end of the strip, behind the line of cut, is clamped in the mandrel |02 and the reeling device is ready to wind up a new coil. Meanwhile, strip steel has been continuously delivered by the pinch rolls 9| to the looper 93, and the framework 92 carry-- ing the upper rolls 92 has been rising to accommodate the excess metal thus delivered. As soon as-the strip has been started on the mandrel |02, the reeling device |0| and the pinch rolls 94 are set in operation and the excess supply in the looper is gradually diminished. In the event that the looper 93 becomes lled to capacity before the reeling device can be re-started, the pinch rolls 94 are, nevertheless, started, to draw the strip through the looper, and the excess material delivered thereby is collected in the looper box, until the reeling device can be operated to handle the strip material in the normal manner. The looper box 95 thus provides a safety factor and accommodates excess strip, since it is of utmost importance that the master pinch rolls 9| operate continuously to draw the strip through the annealing apparatus continuously at a predetermined speed.

The annealing apparatus shown in Figure `4 is generally similar to that described above in connection with Figure 1, but has a greater capacity, since it includes a greater number of heating and cooling chambers and the strip may be drawn therethrough at a somewhat higher rate of speed.

The furnace proper is supported by a suitable framework comprising upright structural members ||5, a lower platform 6, and upper, horizontal frame members ||1. The frame may be braced by suitable tie rods ||8, or the like. The platform ||6 supports the furnace casing ||9 made up of a plurality of relatively heavy sheet metal sections continuously welded along their meeting edges and reinforced by suitable angle bars and the like to provide a strong, substantially gas-tight casing structure. Referring to Figures 7, 8, 10, 13 and 14, within the casing H9 and supported by the platform H5, there is a refractory brickwork floor |20, and similar side walls |2I, |22, front and back end walls |23 and vertically extending partitions |2I, |25 and |26, providing four vertical heating chambers |21. |23, |29 and |30. The floor |20 is provided with a plurality of relatively narrow openings |21a|30a, registering, respectively, with the vertical furnace chambers. At their upper ends, the chambers terminate yin restricted throats I21b-I30b, respectively, which communicate with roll chambers |3|. |32, lined by continuations of the side and end walls and the vertical partition |25.

The space between the brickwork walls |2| |22 and |23 and the metal furnace casing ||9, is packed with suitable heat insulating material, such as rock-wool, asbestos, or the like.

At the lower ends of the vertical chambers |21|30, access doors |33 having suitably refractory linings |34 are supported for swinging movement to and from closed position by hinge bars |35 (see Figs. 4 and 13) Hence, the floor of the heating chambers may be inspected and cleaned -from time to time.

At its upper end, the furnace casing is offset inwardly at |36 to provide two independent casing extensions defining the two roll-receiving chambers |3| and |32. The casing extensions terminate at their'upper ends in two series of at, horizontally disposed plates |31, providing two rectangular bases (Fig. 16) for rectangular, channel-forming collars |38, one of which is shown in detail on an enlarged scale in Figures 21-24. As shown in Figure 23, each collar comprises an inner angle member |38a, and a vertical, outer plate |381, continuously welded thereto and braced by triangular pieces |33c. thereby providing a marginal channel |33d which cooperates with a hood, described below, to provide a substantially gas-tight seal for each roll chamber.

As shown in Figures 16, 17 and 19. the upper casing |35 and the horizontal base |31 for the collar |38 are recessed at |39 to provide spaces for the reception of water-cooled roll shafts hereinafter described. Likewise. the collar |33 (Fig. 22) has an upwardly projecting recess'l39, formed by a, vertical plate |39e and a semi-cylindrical plate |f, providing a rounded hump in the channel |38d, directly above the recess |39. when the parts are assembled.

'I'he roll chambers |3|, |32 are closed by hoods or caps |40, shown more particularly in Figures 12, 25, 26, 27. Each hood comprises side and end walls |41, a curved top wall |42. suitably reinforced by angle straps |43 carrying lifting eyes |44, and a refractory brickwork lining |45 for the top and sides. The sides and end walls of each hood carry outwardly and downwardly projecting flanges continuously welded together and to the hood and providing a sealing skirt |46, having a free edge adapted to be received in the channel |38d of the collar |38, as shown in assembled relation in Figures 7 and 8. The end walls of the hoods, at opposite points, are recessed upwardly at |41 to provide a space aligned with the recesses |39, |39', to accommodate the water-cooled roll shafts previously mentioned.

A semi-cylindrical plate |41a (Fig. v27) denes the recess and is positioned to embrace the shaft.

Rolls |50, |5| (Figs. 4, 9 and 11) are fixed to hollow shafts |50', |5|', journalled in outboard bearings |52, |53 carried by the upper, horizontal frame members Ill. The spaces between the shafts and the arcuate recesses |39, |39', and |41 of the roll housing structures are closed by packing glands |52', |53' (Fig. 9), bolted to the exterior face of the casing wall extensions |35 and the collars |38, bolt holes |35a being provided for that purpose (Figs. 19 and 22) As stated above, the shafts |50', |5|' are hollow for the circulation of cooling water through suitable connections at their ends, not shown. As the description of the present invention progresses, it will be apparent that many parts of the apparatus are water-cooled, but the cooling water circulating pipes have been omitted from the drawings, since they would only tend to obscure other parts.

Below the horizontal platform ||6, there is a roll casing, represented generally at |55 in Figures 4 and 14. The casing comprises a floor member |55a, supported upon transversely disposed I-beams |56 and spaced, longitudinal girders |56a. Side walls |55b, and walls |550 and a ceaillng |55d, provided with suitable openings |55e and a refractory, brickwork lining |51 are supported from the floor |55a. An access door |50, provided with a suitable refractory lining, is mounted for swinging movement in a manner similar to the door shown in Figure 13, whereby the casing may be inspected and cleaned.

The spaces between the casing walls and the brickwork lining |51 is filled with insulating material |51a. The front end wall |55c is made up of a plate bolted to the reinforced margins of the casing surrounding an opening at that end. The

plate may be removed and the insulation at that end broken down. if it is desired to remove the large roll from the interior of the casing for replacement or repair.

Both end walls of the casing |55 are apertured and provided with stuing boxes |59 (Fig. 15). through which the hollow, water-cooled shaft |66 of the lower roll |5| projects, the shaft being journalled in outboard bearings |62 carried by suitable supporting brackets |63 mounted on the I-beams l".

low shaft, to maintain the same in reasonably cool condition.

Projecting through a suitable stuiilng box |64 secured to the end casing plate |55c, is a shaft |65, supported at its opposite end in an appropriate bearing in the opposite end wall, and carrying a scraper blade |66, which projects downwardly into contact with the periphery of the roll |6|, to scrape any scale or dirt therefrom, so that a clean roll surface is always presented to the incoming strip of sheetmetal. On its outer end, the shaft |65 carries, an operating handle |61, whereby the position of the blade |66 and the tension with which it is .urged downwardly onto the surface of the roll may be accurately determined. The blade is preferably a resilient, special alloy plate, substantially of an inch in thickness, known in the trade as resistal #7.

Beneath the roll casing |55 there are a pair of rolls |68 journalled on appropriate bearings adjacent the opposite ends f the spaced longitudinal girders |56a, whereby, upon occasion, the strip may be `led over the roll 16 and under the rolls |68, to by-pass the annealing furnace entirely.

Disposed beneath the platform ||6 and in substantial alignment with the final heating chamber |30, there is a second roll housing |10, having rolls therein adapted to guide the strip from the final heating chamber to the first cooling chamber. As shown in Figure 14, the housing |10 has an upper section |1| communicating through a water-cooled chute section |12 with the opening in the platform I |6 which is aligned with the slit |30a in the furnace floor |20. A roll |13, disposed in the upper section |1|, is fixed to a hollow, water-cooled shaft journalled for rotation in outboard bearings |14 carried by brackets secured in vertical channels |14 extending between supporting I-beams |82 and the furnace platform. Appropriate stufling boxes surround the roll shaft to prevent the escape of gas. The sides of the casing are provided with suitable water-jackets |15, |15a, the latter of which is extended horizontally at |1512 over the top wall of the casing proper. 'I'he strip is guided under the roll |13 and thence about the lower rolls |16, |11, similarly journalled in bearings |18, |19. The bearings |18, like the bearings |14, are supported by the vetrical channel |14', while the bearings |19 are carried by brackets |11. A dirt catching trough |13 extends lengthwise of the casing below the roll |13 and above the roll |16, to prevent the entrance of dirt or scale between the strip'and the periphery of the latter roll. The side and end walls of the casing likewise are water-jacketed, as indicated at |80, |8|, to maintain the rolls in reasonably cool relation and to extract heat from the strip passing through the casing. The casing |10 is supported by suitable I-beams |82 or the like.

The cooling section of the apparatus comprises a' vertical frame including upright structural members |5a, a pair of upper horizontal I-beams ||1a, tranverse members ||1b and intermediate transverse members ll1c. The upper frame members ||1b and ||1c support two pairs of casing assemblies, providing four similarroll housings |95, |95a, |95b and |95c, each of which has communication with a pair of vertical chutes. The rst housing |95 preferably is provided with i4 outboard bearings |96 (Fig. 9) for a hollow. water-cooled shaft |66', carrying the roll in that housing. The shafts for the rolls.in the other roll housings may have bearings |91 associated with the end walls of the housings, since they need not 4be water-cooled. Each pair oi' housings l95, |95a and |95b, |95@ is mounted upon an individual base |96, supported on the transverse frame members ||1b and ||1c.

Certain of the cooling chutes are supported by roll housings 200, 200a, 200b (Fig. 4), each of which is made up oftwo sections similar to the casing section |10a of the roll housing |10. The first casing 200 is provided with outboard bearings 20| for the hollow water-cooled roll shaft,

while the other two may have bearings 202 carried directly by thecasing end'walls.

The strip passes under the roll |11 and is drawn l upwardly through a casing section |10a, which,

at one side, is bolted, with a suitable gasket interposed, to the casing |10 and at its upper end |10b is provided with a flange which may be similarly bolted to the lower end of a first cooling chute section (Figs. 4, 30 and 31). Each chute section |85 (Figs. 30 and 31) comprises double-thickness side walls consisting of plates |86, |81 held in spaced relation by short pipe sections |88, and rivets |89, or the like, to which the plates are welded, thereby providingwater-jackets |90, for the circulation of cooling water through pipe couplings |9|, |92. Each section is provided with angle iron flanges |93 at its upper and lower ends having appropriate bolt holes therein, whereby they may be bolted to corresponding flanges of the adjacent sections, with gas-tight gaskets interposed between adjacent flanges, the lowermost flange |93 being bolted to the ange |101) of the casing section |10a (Fig. 14). The water-cooled chute sections |85 are thus secured together in end to end relation. The intermediate chute section |85a is further secured to a transverse, horizontal channel member 201 by clips 208 welded to the end walls of the chute and bolted to the channel.

jackets |a is relieved at the upper` end, as shown in Figure 32.

The chute sections 203 disposed between the lower roll casing 200 and the upper roll casings |95, |950. preferably are constructed substantially in accordance with the showing of Figures 34 and 35. These sections have walls 204 of single thickness, with angle iron reinforcing strips 205, welded thereto, so as to g-ive the sections the required rigidity. The sections are bolted together in end to end relation, and to the roll housing, with gaskets between their end flanges 266. One or more of the sections 203 may be attached tc crosschannels in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 23. The chute sections 203, however, are cooled by exposure to room air alone.

The chutes 2|0, 2|I, 2|2, 2li connected, respectively, to the upper roll housings |a, |951) and |950 and lower roll casings 200er, 2001) are made up of sections having means associated therewith for cooling the atmosphere in the I In order to provide a space for the channel 201, one of the water- 

